Jeter 0-for-2 in his return

Friday

Feb 28, 2014 at 2:00 AM

TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter got a partial standing ovation Thursday before going hitless in two at-bats in the first spring-training game of his final season, a Yankees' 8-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter got a partial standing ovation Thursday before going hitless in two at-bats in the first spring-training game of his final season, a Yankees' 8-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Yankees' captain, who turns 40 in June, hit a double-play grounder to second off Pittsburgh right-hander Charlie Morton in the first and grounded out to third during the fourth against left-hander Jeff Locke.

Limited to 17 games last season due to leg injuries, Jeter was at shortstop in his first exhibition-season appearance. He broke his left ankle in the 2012 AL Championship Series and did not appear at shortstop last spring training until March 13.

"I felt like I haven't played a game in a couple years," Jeter said. "I think just getting into a game, feeling good, that's what I was most excited about."

Jeter had just 11 at-bats in five games during spring training last year, stayed behind for rehab at the Yankees' minor-league complex and broke the ankle again. He returned to the Yankees on July 11 but wound up on the disabled list three more times.

"He moved free and easy today," said manager Joe Girardi. "That's the best thing I could see."

Girardi said Jeter will not travel for Friday's game in Lakeland against Detroit, but will be in the lineup when New York hosts Philadelphia Saturday, a game in which Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to make his Yankees' debut.

The announced crowd for Thursday's game was 7,763, which is about 3,330 under capacity at Steinbrenner Field.

Notes — Yankees fifth-starter candidate David Phelps allowed one run — a solo homer — two hits and struck out four in two innings. ... Venezuelan catcher Francisco Cervelli posted a photo on Instagram with a group of teammates that included other Yankees from Latin America and Japanese star Ichiro Suzuki showing support for his countrymen. Civil unrest back home has caused numerous deaths and injuries.